Wasabi Sushi Bar — Restaurant in Saint Charles

I hesitated to post this review as I know how imperative reviews are for small businesses, especially when it comes to relevancy scores, as Google tends to spotlight higher-rated restaurants. I felt a moral obligation to share this feedback in hopes the restaurant owner(s) would willingly and openly listen from a place of curiosity, growth, and empathy, and perhaps be thinking about how they might optimize systems and processes so this type of experience doesn't happen in the future.

My husband and I have been to Wasabi twice in the past 3 weeks. Both times the food has been good. The service has been good. The wait times for food, specifically sushi, were unacceptable. Last night, on a Sunday, my wife and I decided to visit Wasabi around 730pm. There were 4 other tables seated when we arrived. We ordered at approx. 745pm. We ordered a stuffed avocado, three sushi rolls, and a poke bowl. The stuffed avocado arrived approx. 20 minutes after placing our order. The sushi rolls and poke bowl; 45 minutes after that.

We don't typically track the amount of time it takes for a restaurant to deliver food. We often get lost in our conversation, enjoying each other's company. Because our previous experience just two weeks prior, where we had waited nearly an hour for our food, our awareness (around kitchen proficiency) was heightened and our antennas were up.

Our server apologized profusely, offering us free green tea. She also mentioned part of our wait time was a result of the "big boss" calling the sushi chef on the phone, therefore he'd been occupied and unable to tend to our order. The best time to be having a coaching conversations with employees is AFTER HOURS, not while customers are present in your restaurant.

This is the first 3-star review I have ever left in my life...... and frankly, I’m being nice by giving 3 instead of 2……because I know how hard it is to start a business, let alone continue operations profitably and successfully over the course of time. Thus, I typically only share raving reviews, and keep the negative ones close to the chest instead of publicizing them as I'm doing here. This experience warranted management oversight, and I hope Wasabi management hears this feedback and takes it to heart. I'd love to give Wasabi another try...

Review of the "Honey Bee" at Wasabi Sushi Bar

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The first thing to know is that the "Honey Bee" roll isn’t just a sushi roll; it's a sensation, a rendezvous of flavors, and a testament to culinary artistry. Wasabi Sushi Bar, renowned for its innovative approach to traditional Japanese fare, has outdone itself yet again with this masterpiece. Kudos to Scarlet who developed the Sushi Roll of the Month, the Honey Bee! It is awesome!

At first glance, the Honey Bee captivates with its sheen, evoking its namesake's luminescence. The roll has an arresting allure that beckons even the most discerning sushi aficionados to venture into this delightful creation.

The first bite is an explosion of taste – the spiciness of the salmon interwoven with the velvety, sweet embrace of the honey glaze creates a delightful paradox on the palate. The spicy salmon, bold and with an assertive kick, is immediately tempered and complimented by the mellowness of the honey glazed salmon. It's a dance of fire and nectar, a yin and yang of flavors that play off each other beautifully.

But what truly elevates the Honey Bee to ethereal heights is the finishing touch of pink Himalayan salt. It's not just a seasoning but an experience. Each granule resonates with earthiness, grounding the duet of the spicy and sweet salmon. It brings a balance, a grounding element that ties together the ensemble, enhancing the depth of flavors and adding a subtle crunch to the mix.

The Honey Bee is a symphony of contrasts: sweet and spicy, soft and crunchy, warm and cool. And yet, these contrasts do not battle, but harmonize, creating a flavor profile that is both rich and refreshing. Every mouthful promises – and delivers – an intricate tapestry of sensations.

So, to those seeking not just a meal, but an adventure, an experience, and a memory – the Honey Bee awaits. This is not just sushi; it’s a love letter to the art of gastronomy. Hats off to Wasabi Sushi Bar for crafting such a beautiful ode to the sea, the hive, and the mountains. The Honey Bee isn’t just buzzing; it’s absolutely roaring with acclaim! Kudos to our server Megan and...

My wife and I went yesterday at 12:30. It was not busy at all for lunch time on a Saturday. We were sat promptly and took our time looking over the menu since we’ve never been there before. We ordered three rolls (shrimp tempura, girl on fire and scallop volcano roll). The appetizer sampler, shrimp dumplings and the spicy entree with beef. The appetizers with the exception of the shrimp dumplings weren’t even hot. The shrimp had a very overly soft texture to it. (both in the tempura roll and the tempura appetizer). The food did arrive quickly though. The side salad dressing was very overwhelming to where it was inedible. And the scallop volcano roll didn’t taste good at all (very fishy tasting) and the spicy mayo had a weird taste to it. Also the spicy entree with beef only had five small pieces of meat that was cooked well done and very tough to chew. It also wasn’t very spicy. For $17.00 you’d expect to have more than five small bite sized pieces of protein. The rice on the rolls and the entree was very mushy (overcooked). And the rolls were falling apart, so you couldn’t even pick them up with the chopsticks. You could get all you can eat sushi for almost the same price as that entree at Sushi Ai. The sushi is also way better. We spent $100 between the food and tip and feel like the whole experience was a complete waste of money. We gave them the benefit of the doubt as there were more good reviews for this place than bad reviews. But we should’ve trusted the 3.5 star rating. Don’t waste your hard earned money here! You’d think with all of the high end restaurants next to here, it would be a great experience, but no. Go to Pf Changs, Prasino, Tucanos, or Bar Louie, Firebirds or Napoli 2. And if you’re interested in good sushi, go to Sushi Ai or Kitaro in Ofallon. Kitaro has great sushi, great food and you get what more than what you pay for. Trust the Star rating and the negative reviews. This place isn’t worth your...